The election of Donald J. Trump as the U.S. President in 2016, Brexit, Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Geert Wilders in the Netherlands and Marine Le Pen’s National Front in France—these are just a few of the recent events that have focused the world’s attention on populism.

What is populism? Where do we see populism, and where is it absent? Is populism a threat to democracy, or does it give voice to the weak and excluded? This talk explores the scholarly understanding of populism and its connection to democracy.

Professor Robert Pekkanen will be speaking with time for audience Q&A.